2017 Autumn Equinox Healing Walk - Kosciuska Healing Garden & LRCA
inspired by the Lithuanian Autumn Equinox Ceremonies in Vilnius
Participants gathered around a table of symbolic offerings
Walking along the river into the sunset
Marie Laske, Dick Laske's widow, and Dr. Carol Gargan, founder and coordinator for the Kosciuska Healing Garden; Dennis Palladino, President of the Knights of Lithuania Pittston Chapter and his wife Janet.
A traditional Lithuanian wreath of oak leaves was placed in the river by Marie Laske in honor of her husband Dick Laske, a founding member of the conservation organization.
All photographs courtesy of Gail Siracuse - a volunteer for the Kosciuska Healing Garden for 3 years.
Rev. William Pickard, who had grown up along the river, recalled the earliest efforts to restore fish to the stream by Claire Kenny of Archbald, PA. See video with Claire Kenny and Father William Pickard, then a boy scout, stocking trout in the river in the tab Earlier Efforts.
A bon fire - a good fire
From Cross Burnings to a Bonfire - Good Fire
The area for the laying of the wreath upon the river had once been known as Capoose Meadows - the last known site for a Native American village in the area --that of the Lenape Munsee. With the arrival of white settlers and their farms and houses for awhile the area was left as a park and became known as Park Place.
Anthracite mining brought the Diamond Coal Mine and Breaker to the area which then became known as Diamond Flats.
Today a smaller park area remains as well as a farmer's market . My family's home lay across the river bend that continually flooded
"the flats." During the 1920's and 30's my mother recalled the terror she and her family felt watching cross burnings against "foreigners" burning atop the culm and ash dumps of the Diamond Mine where her father worked.
The event was of particular importance for this organizer - where hate once burned the effort was made to establish a good fire of hope.
The river polluted by the uncontrolled mining of black diamonds witnessed the healing pattern of the diamond rose woven in the 19th century jousta/sash of my grandmother worn around my waist and growing alive in the dawn roses of my mother planted along the river in the healing garden.
Anthracite mining brought the Diamond Coal Mine and Breaker to the area which then became known as Diamond Flats.
Today a smaller park area remains as well as a farmer's market . My family's home lay across the river bend that continually flooded
"the flats." During the 1920's and 30's my mother recalled the terror she and her family felt watching cross burnings against "foreigners" burning atop the culm and ash dumps of the Diamond Mine where her father worked.
The event was of particular importance for this organizer - where hate once burned the effort was made to establish a good fire of hope.
The river polluted by the uncontrolled mining of black diamonds witnessed the healing pattern of the diamond rose woven in the 19th century jousta/sash of my grandmother worn around my waist and growing alive in the dawn roses of my mother planted along the river in the healing garden.